Polyurethanes Market Research ..

Chinese polyurethane market may become the world’s largest by 2015.

According to UK-based market research firm Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd., global demand for polyurethane (PU) has been growing at a steady pace over the recent years. Chinese PU is forecast to grow by 10% to become the world’s largest by 2015.

The demand for PU materials grew by an average rate of 5% within 1998-2004. This rate varied from 3% in Europe to 10% in Asia Pacific.

According to BASF specialists, the demand for polyurethanes in Asia will reach one third of worldwide demand and will grow faster than anywhere else.

North America accounts for the major share of PU consumption.

Footwear industry (especially in Asia) demonstrated high demand for thermoplastic PU. In future, medical products may be largely responsible for TPU consumption.

Currently, the global PU manufacture absorbs 4m mt of polyols, 600K mt of which are polyester polyols (both aliphatic and aromatic). Polyester polyols are indispensable in the manufacture of certain PU products.

PU coating is a lucrative market with 5% average growth rate (8-9% in Europe).

Paint and varnish sector demonstrates the fastest rate of PU consumption growth if compared to the consumption rates shown by other industries. This sector accounts for 10.5% of total PU consumption (which makes about 0.9m mt).

The annual growth of polyesters consumption for PU production has been 3-5% over the recent 5 years. The use of polyurethanes depends from such factors as the level of economic development, national standards requirements, etc. Thus, the main consumers of polyesters in various world regions are as follows: EU countries – automotive and machine-building industries; China – artificial leather; South-East Asia – footwear sector. In the USA, 81% of consumed polyesters are used for the production of rigid PU foams applied for thermal insulation of pipes, living apartments, industrial facilities, tankers, etc.

PU materials stand at the forefront of synthetic plastics industry procuring various market segments with required products.

The "Polyurethanes Market Research" Report also features the following information:

• situation on the global PU market;
• list of major PU producers and consumers;
• market development forecasts;
• to name only a few subjects.

This review centres on the study of the global and CIS markets for polyurethanes and related products. It describes polyurethane production methods and application. Special emphasis is given to the analysis of isocyanate market. The present study provides information on corresponding investment proposals, product range, prices, supply and demand, etc.

Contents

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION: DESCRIPTION, RAW MATERIALS, PRODUCTION, USES OF POLYURETHANES
1.1 Polyurethanes description
1.2 Raw Materials
Isocyanates
Polyols
Additives
1.3 Production
1.4 Uses

2. POLYURETHANE PROPERTIES. SYNTHESIS BASICS
2.1 Properties
2.2 Types
2.3 Synthesis process

3. GLOBAL POLYURETHANE MARKET
3.1 Global polyurethane market overview
3.2 Europe
3.3 USA, Canada, Latin America
3.4 Asia: Japan, China, India

4. POLYURETHANE PRODUCERS AND TRADENAMES

5. EQUIPMENT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PU-RELATED PRODUCTS

6. RUSSIAN PU MARKET
6.1 Prospects for the Russian PU market development
6.2 PU specifications and properties
6.3 Molded elastomers production technology
6.4 Manufacturers of PU and PU-related products
6.5 Traders on the Russian PU market
6.6 Suppliers of PU production equipment in Russia

7. MANUFACTURE OF PU PRODUCTS IN BELARUS AND KAZAKHSTAN

8. PU MARKET IN UKRAINE
8.1 Manufacturers of PU products in Ukraine
8.2 Traders on Ukrainian PU market
8.3 Equipment suppliers

9. ELASTAN YARN MARKET

10. THE USE OF PU IN SHEET-STAMPING PRODUCTION

APPENDIX 1. POLYURETHANE RECYCLING